Apparatus and method for isolating and/or eliminating solutes from a solution

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for removing solutes from a solution using a nano-filtration means to provide a treated solution.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the isolation and/or elimination ofsolutes from a solution, more particularly from beverages.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] It is well-known in the art that during the course of theproduction of certain beverages, compounds are produced which detractfrom the flavour and quality of the beverage. This is a particularproblem associated with the production of alcoholic beverages wherecompounds such as ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and acetaldehyde aredetrimental to the flavour and aroma of the alcoholic beverage.

[0003] It is also known in the art that such undesirable compounds maybe removed from solution by means of reverse osmosis. This process ofreverse osmosis requires elevated pressures to achieve its effect,resulting in an increase in temperature. It is commonly known thatcertain volatile components in solution are adversely affected by anincrease in temperature that leads to associated unfavourabledevelopment of derivatives of integral solutes in solution, or even moreunfavourably the generation of contaminating compounds in solution.Reverse osmosis also only removes up to 15% of the volatile acidity fromthe wine in a single pass. If higher levels are to be removed using thereverse osmosis process, the wine has to then be passed 2-3 times whichcan lead to a further deterioration in the whole quality of the wine aswell as excessive increases in temperature. To limit, insofar aspossible, the effects of the reverse osmosis on the quality of thetreated solution heat exchangers are utilised, which is costly andcumbersome. Ultra-filtration is also known to remove unwanted compoundsfrom a solution. However, this requires low pressure with concomitantdetrimental effects to the solution insofar as desirable compounds alsopass through into the permeate.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus, which,at least partially, alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method,which, at least partially, alleviates some of the above-mentionedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatusfor removing at least one solute from a solution comprising a receptaclefor a solution; a nano-filtration means in fluid communication with thereceptacle; a means for driving the solution through the nano-filtrationmeans to produce a retentate at a retentate outlet and a raw permeate ata raw permeate outlet; a separation means having an inlet which is influid communication with the raw permeate outlet of the nano-filtrationmeans and a treated permeate effluent outlet which is in fluidcommunication with the retentate outlet which, in use, combines theretentate egressing from the retentate outlet with the treated permeateegressing from the treated permeate effluent outlet to provide a treatedsolution.

[0007] In accordance with this embodiment of the invention theseparation means is preferably a treatment column, the column being anion exchange column, alternatively a hydrophobic interaction column,further alternatively an affinity column, still further alternatively agel filtration or gel exclusion column.

[0008] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention there isan apparatus for removing at least one solute from an untreatedalcoholic beverage comprising a receptacle for the untreated alcoholicbeverage; a nano-filtration means in fluid communication with thereceptacle; a means for driving the untreated alcoholic beverage throughthe nano-filtration unit to produce a retentate at a retentate outletand a raw permeate at a raw permeate outlet; an anion exchange columnhaving an inlet which is in fluid communication with the raw permeateoutlet of the nano-filtration unit and a treated permeate effluentoutlet which is in fluid communication with the retentate outlet which,in use, combines the retentate egressing from the retentate outlet withthe treated permeate egressing from the treated permeate effluent outletto provide a treated untreated alcoholic beverage.

[0009] Furthermore, in accordance with the invention there is provided amethod for treatment of a solution to remove at least one solute from asolution, including the steps of subjecting the solution to a process ofnano-filtration for producing a retentate and a raw permeate, with theraw permeate containing the solute; treating the raw permeate forremoving at least a portion of the solute to provide a treated permeate;and combining the retentate and the treated permeate to provide atreated solution, preferably the treatment of the raw permeate occursunder high pH conditions on an anion exchange column.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawing where:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus for isolating and/oreliminating a solute from a solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

[0012] With reference to the drawing an apparatus (1) for removing acompound (not shown) of interest from an untreated alcoholic beverage(12) is illustrated. The apparatus (1) has a receptacle (10) whichreceives the untreated alcoholic beverage (12), a nano-filtration unit(14) which is in fluid communication with the receptacle (10) and a pump(16) to drive the untreated alcoholic beverage (12) through thenano-filtration unit (14) to produce a retentate (not shown) at aretentate outlet (18) and a raw permeate (not shown) at a raw permeateoutlet (20) and a anion exchange column (22) having an inlet (24) whichis in fluid communication with the raw permeate outlet (20) of thenano-filtration unit (14) and a treated permeate effluent outlet (26)which is in fluid communication with the retentate outlet (18) which,when the apparatus (1) is in use, combines the retentate (not shown)egressing from the retentate outlet (18) with the treated permeate (notshown) egressing from the treated permeate effluent outlet (26) toprovide a treated alcoholic beverage (not shown).

[0013] One embodiment of the method for treatment of an untreatedalcoholic beverage (12) to remove at least one compound (not shown) fromthe untreated alcoholic beverage (12) includes the steps of subjectingthe untreated alcoholic beverage (12) to a process of nano-filtrationthrough the nano-filtration unit (14) to produce a retentate (not shown)and a raw permeate (not shown), with the raw permeate (not shown)containing the compound to be removed from the raw permeate (not shown)followed by treating the raw permeate (not shown) by passage through ananion exchange column under high pH conditions (22) thereby removing atleast a portion of the compound (not shown) to provide a treatedpermeate (not shown); and combining the retentate (not shown) and thetreated permeate (not shown) to provide a treated alcoholic beverage.

[0014] It will be appreciated that numerous variations, which will beapparent to those skilled in the art, can be made to the above-mentionedembodiment of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Inparticular the means for driving the untreated solution through thenano-filtration unit may be gravity-based.

1. An apparatus for removing at least one solute from a solutioncomprising a receptacle for a solution; a nano-filtration means in fluidcommunication with the receptacle; a means for driving the solutionthrough the nano-filtration means to produce a retentate at a retentateoutlet and a raw permeate at a raw permeate outlet; a separation meanshaving an inlet which is in fluid communication with the raw permeateoutlet of the nano-filtration means and a treated permeate effluentoutlet which is in fluid communication with the retentate outlet which,in use, combines the retentate egressing from the retentate outlet withthe treated permeate egressing from the treated permeate effluent outletto provide a treated solution.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the separation means is a treatment column.
 3. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the column is an ion exchange column.
 4. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the column is a hydrophobicinteraction column.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein thecolumn is an affinity column.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2wherein the column is a gel filtration- column or gel exclusion column.7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 for removing at least one solutefrom an untreated alcoholic beverage comprising a receptacle for theuntreated alcoholic beverage; a nano-filtration means in fluidcommunication with the receptacle; a means for driving the untreatedalcoholic beverage through the nano-filtration unit to produce aretentate at a retentate outlet and a raw permeate at a raw permeateoutlet; an anion exchange column having an inlet which is in fluidcommunication with the raw permeate outlet of the nano-filtration unitand a treated permeate effluent outlet which is in fluid communicationwith the retentate outlet which, in use, combines the retentateegressing from the retentate outlet with the treated permeate egressingfrom the treated permeate effluent outlet to provide a treated untreatedalcoholic beverage.
 8. A method for treatment of a solution to remove atleast one solute from a solution, including the steps of subjecting thesolution to a process of nano-filtration for producing a retentate and araw permeate, with the raw permeate containing the solute; treating theraw permeate for removing at least a portion of the solute to provide atreated permeate; and combining the retentate and the treated permeateto provide a treated solution, preferably the treatment of the rawpermeate occurs under high pH conditions on an anion exchange column. 9.An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, including any newand inventive integer or combination thereof herein described.
 10. Anapparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, including any new andinventive integer or combination thereof herein exemplified.
 11. Amethod as claimed in claim 8, including any new and inventive integerherein described.